sough

Sough is a word primarily used to describe the sound of wind blowing through trees or other vegetation. It evokes a rustling, murmuring, or whispering sound. The term can also be applied to the sound of water, such as a stream or the sea, especially when it is flowing or murmuring gently. In a broader sense, sough can refer to any low, continuous, and often mournful sound.

The etymology of sough is uncertain, though it is believed to have originated from Old English or Old Norse words related to sighing or whispering. It is a relatively uncommon word in modern English, often found in literature or poetry to create a specific atmospheric effect. Its use can imbue a scene with a sense of nature's presence, a gentle disturbance, or even a melancholic undertone.

While the most common association is with natural sounds, the word can occasionally be used metaphorically to describe a low, sighing sound produced by machinery or even human speech, though this usage is less frequent. The primary connotation remains that of the gentle, continuous sound of wind or water.